UNEP Focal Point: 

Mr. Mark Tucker

Mr. Mark Tucker

Policy Coordination Division

Department of the Environment and Heritage

GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia

Tel: +61 2 6274 1590

Fax: +61 2 6274 1940

Or GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601

COUNTRY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX*

Life expectancy at birth (years) 2001......................................................79.0

Adult literacy rate 2001............................................................................99.0

Life expectancy index 2001 ……………………………………………..0.90

Educational index 1999 ...................................................................... .0.99

GDP per capita (PPP US$) 2001........................................................ 25,370

Human development index rank 2001 ........................................................4

Key Facts*

Official title: Commonwealth of Australia

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 Feb 1952); represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael JEFFREY (since 11 August 2003)

Head of government: Prime Minister John W. Howard (leader of Liberal Party)

Ruling system: Multi Party

Ruling party: Liberal-National Coalition

Capital: Canberra, ACT

Area: 7,682,300 sq km,

Population: 19,731,984 (July 2003 est.)

Membership of International Organizations: ANZUS, APEC, Asian Development Bank (ADB), ARF (dialogue partner), ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CCC, Colombo Plan (CP), Commonwealth, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OPEC, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC.

Expiry of GC membership:

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON ENVIRONMENT

Australia is a Party to:

• the 1964 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ratification 1 December 1947)
• the 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (ratification 8 May 1974)
• the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (being administered by UNESCO/ratification 22 August 1974)
• the 1972 International Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other matter (ratification 21 August 1985)
• the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (ratification 29 July 1976)
• the 1979 Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (accession 26 July 1991)
• the 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (accession 16 September 1987);
• the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (ratification 19 May 1989)
• the 1986 Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (ratification 19 July 1989)
• the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (accession 5 February 1992);
• the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (ratification 30 December 1992)
• the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (ratification 18 June 1993)

Australia is a signatory to:

• the 1994 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa (signature 14 October 1994)

Sustainable development requires the maintenance of the following three key components of the environment:

biodiversity: the variety of species, populations, habitats and ecosystems;

ecological integrity: the general health and resilience of natural life-support systems, including their ability to assimilate wastes and withstand stresses such as climate change and ozone depletion;

natural capital: the stock of productive soil, fresh water, forests, clean air, ocean, and other renewable resources that underpin the survival, health and prosperity of human communities.

MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

• Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975
• Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975
• National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975
• Captains Flat (Abatement of Pollution) Agreement Act 1975
• Environment (Financial Assistance) Act 1977
• Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978
• Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980
• Whale Protection Act 1980
• Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981
• Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act 1981
• Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982
• World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984
• Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986
• Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989
• Hazardous Wastes (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989
• Endangered Species Protection Act 1992
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Environment Management Charge-General) Act 1993
• Environmental Management Charge-Excise Act 1993
• National Environment Protection Council Act 1994
• Meteorology Act 1995
• Ozone Protection (License Fees-Imports) Act 1995
• Ozone Protection (License Fees-Manufacture) Act 1995
• Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997
• National Environment Protection Measures (Implementation) Act 1998
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
• Environmental Reform Act 1999
• Environment Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999
• Product Stewardship (Oil) Act 2000
• Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000
• Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Act 2000
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Wildlife Protection) Act 2001
• Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001
• Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTIONS

The Department of the Environment and Heritage (Environment Australia), a major environmental agency of Australian Government which advises the Government on policies and programmes for the protection and conservation of the environment, including both natural and cultural heritage places. The portfolio consists of:

• Environment Australia including
• the Australian Antarctic Division
• the Supervising Scientist Division
• Five statutory authorities:
• the Australian Heritage Council
• the Director of National Parks
• the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
• the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator
• the Sydney Habour Federation Trust; and
• Three executive agencies:
• the Australian Geenhouse Office
• the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology
• the National Oceans Office
• The portfolio’s role is to achieve three major outcomes for the Commonwealth Government:
• The environment is protected and conserved;
• Australia benefits from meteorological and related sciences and services; and
• Australia’s interests in Antarctica are advanced.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Environmental impact assessment may be required under the laws of both the Commonwealth (National) and State Governments in Australia. At the Commonwealth level, any action, which may be environmentally significant that is proposed by a Commonwealth agency (including the funding or approval of projects, plans or policies) must be referred to the Environment Minister for advice. Several levels of assessment action are possible, including the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or the conduct of a Public Inquiry into the environmental consequences of the proposal. A parallel regime applies to the activities of telecommunications carriers.

At the State (or Territory) level, impact assessment requirements are generally integrated with other statutory planning and development approval processes. Mechanisms are in place to ensure that project proponents are subject to a single assessment process that integrates the concerns and responsibilities of both levels of government.

KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

1. Atmosphere: climate variability and change; stratospheric ozone; urban air quality; regional air quality

2. Coasts and oceans: degradation of habitats; threats to marine species; effects of increased coastal settlement; decline in coastal water quality; fisheries and aquaculture; threat of introduce marine pests; marine industry development; marine resource management

3. Land: accelerated erosion; altered habitats; invasive species; secondary salinity and acidity; nutrient and carbon cycling; soil and land pollution

4. Inland waters: water resources; water quality; aquatic ecosystems

5. Biodiversity: land clearing; dryland salinity and water quality; ecosystem and land use change; altered fire regimes; climate change; diseases and invasive species; genetically modified organisms and biodiversity; protection of biodiversity values in reserves, changing roles and responsibilities

6. Natural and cultural heritage: effect of tourism on heritage; threats to the sustainability of cultural and natural heritage

7. Human settlements: pattern of human settlement; inadequate infrastructure (for indigenous communities); high material and energy consumption; increased transport use; urban water use, management of waste

Year

Awardee

Year

Awardee

1987

Bob Brown, Parliament House

1987

Margaret Robertson, The Wilderness Society

1987

Joseph Glascott, c/o Sydney Morning Herald

1988

David Edward James

1988

Aila Inkero Keto

1989

Australian Commission for the Future Ltd.

1989

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)

1989

Milo Dunphy

1989

Donald McMichael

1989

Robert Swan, The International North Pole

1990

Alcoa of Australia Limited

1990

Christine Milne

1990

John Sinclair

1991

Donald James Henry

1992

Robert Peter Burton, The Wilderness Society

1993

Ian Bruce Carrick Kiernan

1995

Ron G. Watkins

1998

Greening Australia

1999

Verna Simpson

2000

Andyamathanha Nepabunna Community

2000

Fuji Xerox Australia

2000

Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers (Youth Category)

2001

Sydney Olympic Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) and Olympic Coordinating Authority (OCA)